LACTIC ACID AND PHYSICAL EXERCISE

WHAT IS THE LACTIC ACID? HOW IS IT FORMED?

Here there is a simple approximation to it:

The muscle glycogen decomposes forming Pyruvic Acid and energy. This energy is called anaerobic as it occurs without oxygen intervention because in the process. At the same time, this Pyruvic Acid decomposes within the muscle cells in much more energy, being this the aerobic type, as it uses oxygen during the process. If these cells are not able to transform the entire Pyruvic Acid’s energy, this is chemically transformed into Lactic Acid.

So far so good, right?

Well, we should explain that some cells are better able to use Pyruvic Acid than others. With training we get more cells able to efficiently use the Pyruvic Acid producing less Lactic Acid.

If we look at it from the aspect of intensity , imagine that increasing the intensity require the use of new fibers , which are not as well accustomed to function as the most basic fibers, so we produce more Lactic Acid.

Furthermore, when performing max. exercises the body generates a large amount of Pyruvic Acid, in order to meet the energy demand, producing in turn a lot of Lactic Acid. The amount of Lactic Acid here helps us to know how fast we are producing energy.

HOW DO WE SEE THIS WHEN MEASURING LACTIC ACID?

Measuring the Lactic Acid during submaximal efforts we can see that its presence indicates that the aerobic energy of some of the muscle fibers involved in the exercise is limited.

However, if the measurement is made for max. efforts, the amount of Lactic Acid produced is indicative of the anaerobic system development .

Well, and WHAT HAPPENS TO THIS LACTIC ACID?

Most of it tends to leave the muscle and go into adjacent muscles, or the bloodstream or intercellular spaces.

When this Lactic Acid passes into other muscles, this is converted into Pyruvic Acid by enzymes, regenerating aerobic energy, normally used in these adjacent muscles that may have intervened less in the exercise and are less fatigued.

So IS LACTIC ACID GOOD OR NOT?

Well, neither one nor the other. What happens is that when Lactic Acid is produced, hydrogen ions are also produced, which increase muscle acidity, causing muscular exhaustion. Meaning it is not bad, but the fact that there is, is a synonym for exhaustion.

SUMMARISING:

We can say that it is a byproduct of anaerobic energy production, and a source of considerable importance in aerobic energy production at the same time, but high levels are a sign of muscle acidification (not by the Lactic Acid, but by the hydrogen ions produced from the breakdown of Pyruvic Acid into Lactic Acid) that will cause muscle exhaustion afterwards.